..or am I the only one..?
Anyone else run their home on Solar Power..?
| fourx wrote: |
| ..or am I the only one..? |
how do you run your home on solar? how much did it cost to set it up? what was involved?
It's very simple, as long as you are prepared to do without some of the suburban comforts such as microwaves and blenders, run most stuff as 12 volt and use a laptop rather than a desk-top computer.
I've been on solar for twenty years- just four panels and four heavy duty car batteries which last around five years a set- and it cost under a grand ($AUD) then- it can still be done for under two now, I imagine.
I've been on solar for twenty years- just four panels and four heavy duty car batteries which last around five years a set- and it cost under a grand ($AUD) then- it can still be done for under two now, I imagine.
That's real cool fourx, shot man!
So you have no connection to the mains?
How do ya heat ya shower or can the solar power handle that as well?
So you have no connection to the mains?
How do ya heat ya shower or can the solar power handle that as well?
I wish we were on solar, but we can't afford to convert right now. Some day, hopefully. We do other things to limit our energy use, though.
The smart thing to do is connect to the grid. That way, you can sell your excess power, make a little money, and know that the power company is burning that much less fuel to power someone else's home.
| dray101 wrote: |
| That's real cool fourx, shot man!
So you have no connection to the mains? How do ya heat ya shower or can the solar power handle that as well? |
The smart thing to do is connect to the grid. That way, you can sell your excess power, make a little money, and know that the power company is burning that much less fuel to power someone else's home.
| dray101 wrote: |
| That's real cool fourx, shot man!
So you have no connection to the mains? How do ya heat ya shower or can the solar power handle that as well? |
No, no connection, no power bills, and no pesky meter-readers to disturb the splendid isolation.
LPG (Propane ) gas heats the water, and runs the stove
| fourx wrote: | ||
No, no connection, no power bills, and no pesky meter-readers to disturb the splendid isolation. LPG (Propane ) gas heats the water, and runs the stove |
Sounds like you have done it improperly, I would've converted the solar energy to ac after it had been stored in a dc battery. This way I can run whatever the heck I want.
| fourx wrote: |
| It's very simple, as long as you are prepared to do without some of the suburban comforts such as microwaves and blenders, run most stuff as 12 volt and use a laptop rather than a desk-top computer.
I've been on solar for twenty years- just four panels and four heavy duty car batteries which last around five years a set- and it cost under a grand ($AUD) then- it can still be done for under two now, I imagine. |
Thing is, in the USA, it's cheaper to go off the grid, rather than buy the panels. ...Not to mention the real-estate. ...And don't forget about Air Conditioning. Most areas that don't have the snow issue (which is-nae good for dem panels) have a sweltering heat in the summer. ...And them heat engines suck.
I would like to go solar, but I hope there will be a better, more cost-effective solution in the future. ...I would hate to waste my money now. ...However better insulation, etc. would be cool. ...I might try and do some electric generation and efficiency projects once I actually own a place, but alas, so far, it's me at the mercy of the landlord.
| coreymanshack wrote: | ||||
Sounds like you have done it improperly, I would've converted the solar energy to ac after it had been stored in a dc battery. This way I can run whatever the heck I want. |
Conversion to AC requires a large inverter, and an array of panels costing about the same as a grid connection is required to run a system which will run anything. As i pointed out, if a suburban lifestyle is what you want Solar is not really a viable option cost-wise. I would suggest that a system which has met all the users needs for over twenty years without a single glitch is not, by any means, installed ""improperly"".
Mannix, a fair proportion of heating and cooling is handled by the use of Passive Solar design, which is the way I went when designing my home- and a sub-tropical climate with wet summers and dry winters helps, as well, of course.
I know people who've been on solar power, and, while they probably weren't running three hair-driers at once, they lived what I consider to be a normal lifestyle despite being almost always on solar power. Of course, they were on the grid, so it's possible that they drew extra power to meet their needs, and made up for it later by supplying energy to the grid. I know that even on cloudy days they had enough power to run their lives, and in upstate New York still managed about a zero net grid power use. So I believe some of the statements on this board might be feeding some myths about solar power. I also know that they were on target to recoup the cost of the installation and maintenance after about 10 years.
FourX
I am really impressed what part of the globe are you living in?
I am really impressed what part of the globe are you living in?
| fourx wrote: | ||||||
Conversion to AC requires a large inverter, and an array of panels costing about the same as a grid connection is required to run a system which will run anything. As i pointed out, if a suburban lifestyle is what you want Solar is not really a viable option cost-wise. I would suggest that a system which has met all the users needs for over twenty years without a single glitch is not, by any means, installed ""improperly"". Mannix, a fair proportion of heating and cooling is handled by the use of Passive Solar design, which is the way I went when designing my home- and a sub-tropical climate with wet summers and dry winters helps, as well, of course. |
Much like the panels, it's a one time investment, that would be well worth it IMO
| chasbeen wrote: |
| FourX
I am really impressed what part of the globe are you living in? |
Half-way between Sydney and Brisbane, where cloudless days are the norm- which leads me to wonder if the fact more folk here are not running on solar are the excessive systems they are told they need.
Thats a very nice thing to do, I do not have solar power in my house but i have always dreamed about it, and moreover, to complement it with wind power and wy not, if you are near a creek, you could put a homemade turbine. There are lots of cheap and efficient alternative ways of getting energy.
Congrulations... giving no money to electricity month to month is attractive for anyone
It sure works for me- my power bill is around $240 every five years -for a new set of batteries.fourx. Please share your knowledge. I know your busy but i'd make time to make the website.
You only have to answer a few questions after you send the pictures. I will do the rest
You only have to answer a few questions after you send the pictures. I will do the rest
| Gagnar The Unruly wrote: |
| I know people who've been on solar power, and, while they probably weren't running three hair-driers at once, they lived what I consider to be a normal lifestyle despite being almost always on solar power. Of course, they were on the grid, so it's possible that they drew extra power to meet their needs, and made up for it later by supplying energy to the grid. I know that even on cloudy days they had enough power to run their lives, and in upstate New York still managed about a zero net grid power use. So I believe some of the statements on this board might be feeding some myths about solar power. I also know that they were on target to recoup the cost of the installation and maintenance after about 10 years. |
Most people don't realize that they can take care of heat problems by placing strategic landscaping around their home. However, that requires giving up the nice suburban lawns. Can you deal with out it? You can take a heck of a lot of load off your A/C and furnace by doing that.
Well I htink i need to use more electricity than fourx does 
What if you live in Alaska? the sun does not appear quite frequently there.
I think what we all crave is a home that is:
-Generates clean electricity
-thermally efficient with solar heating for air/water and thermal recycling (waste heat from freezer used to heat up water etc)
-captures fresh rain water for drinking, can store excess for cleaning etc (fresh depending on how close to a city though)
The problem is that what we also crave is modern living. And the huge startup costs of even the most rudimentary solar system puts off the vast majority of people.
Government plans to subsidise these systems and also introduce legislation to force home builders to implement it will greatly help I'd imagine.
David.
-Generates clean electricity
-thermally efficient with solar heating for air/water and thermal recycling (waste heat from freezer used to heat up water etc)
-captures fresh rain water for drinking, can store excess for cleaning etc (fresh depending on how close to a city though)
The problem is that what we also crave is modern living. And the huge startup costs of even the most rudimentary solar system puts off the vast majority of people.
Government plans to subsidise these systems and also introduce legislation to force home builders to implement it will greatly help I'd imagine.
David.
 |